Archive for the ‘Miami’ Category

Miami Car Dealer Norman Braman is opposed to the use of public funds for some major projects in downtown Miami. Included in a package recently approved by Miami-Dade Commission is a Baseball Stadium to be built on the site of the soon-to-be demolished Orange Bowl. Braman says he’ll sue if the plan goes forward.

According to the Miami Herald a radio commercial Braman is paying for proclaims: “Dolphin Stadium was built without taxpayer dollars. The Marlins should do the same. These property taxes were intended for the poor. The Marlins are not poor.”

Apparently Braman is death on public dollars for stadiums but not public land. One of our sports producers dug this gem out of the New York Times from November 1, 1993:

Braman May Build Stadium

Published: November 1, 1993

The Philadelphia Eagles’ owner, Norman Braman, says he will finance an open-air, grass-field football stadium if the city donates the land once occupied by John F. Kennedy Stadium.

“If the city would give me the land, I have the ability to swing it financially,” Braman said, according to today’s editions of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think it’s something that could be built rather rapidly,” Braman said. “And I’d like to do it without costing the city of Philadelphia 5 cents.” The field would “have to be somewhere around here; it doesn’t have to be the old J.F.K. site,” Braman said.

Interesting…………………

The County Commission still needs to give final approval to the stadium portion of the massive revamp of downtown. Braman hopes to veto that by swaying public opinion against the stadium deal which includes 155-Million from the Marlins, the County, 249-million, and the city, 121-million.

It seems like Fidel Castro dies every Friday. For the last few weeks the last day of the work week has seen our news room scrambling to check out the multiple rumors swirling from Sweetwater, over to Hialeah, on to the heat of Calle Ocho that Fidel had gone toes up.

I took plenty of calls:“My sister has a brother who is a policeman who has been told to report for work tonight because Fidel died.” “The Police Chief from Sweetwater was called back from vacation because Fidel Died.”“My cousin works at the U.S. Attorney’s office and they all went home early.” “There has been a series of High level police meetings today.” “There is a big road block at the top of the Keys because Fidel Died.” “What have you heard, I hear there are tanks in the streets of Havana.” “There is a full alert at MIA.” “NBC National News is working on Fidel.” “Fidel’s death will be announced at 3:00pm.” “The Cuban Government will have an announcement at 4:00pm.” “The Cuban TV is running a documentary about Fidel.” “German Intelligence will report that Fidel is dead.”

As far as we can tell Fidel is still alive. Will he die again this Friday? Probably. I have to admit that I fear that there is some type of manipulation going on. Is it the Cuban Government and its extensive spy network stirring up trouble in the exile community? Is it the U.S. Government slowly sapping the excitement out of the Exiles so they won’t party Miami to a stand still when the real announcement comes?

Someone is behind the “Friday Fidel Follies.”

My guess it is the Cubans. The have done an excellent job of transition of power. Fidel to Raul has been seamless, perfect to keep Cuba’s governmental scam alive and in total control. So why not slow down the Exiles? Get ’em fired up so much that when the real deal comes down there is almost a “so what” attitude. Perfect of the Cubans, they get to have a major funeral, all eyes focused on the Island, Raul and his fragile coalition of generals and bureaucrats get to roll on without too much fuss from across the Straits of Florida.

I remember all too well when the Cuban Spies were on trial the extensive discussion of the group’s use of “Active Measures.” Part of the spy task was to stir up the exiles, get the in conflict with each other, get them into the streets for any reason, make them look bad in the eyes of the rest of the U.S. Are the Cubans initiating active measures?

Yep someone out there is manipulating the South Florida Exiles and the local news media. The “Friday Fidel Follies,” are some one’s project that if nothing else seems to be very effective in generating a lot of buzz.”

It is the small things that seem to stick with you over the years. The big important stuff sometimes goes away but it is those little incidents that seem “just like yesterday” when you relive major events in your life, especially a catastrophe like Hurricane Andrew.

Here are a few memories that have lingered over the years, most of them not really pretty, nor fun at the time, or now for that matter:

Watching looters push aside TV cameras, cops and the armed soldiers from the U.S. Army and continue to pillage retail outlets and malls in South Dade.

The drunken security guard pointing a large pistol in my face because he “didn’t like no media.”

Realizing that while writing and reporting about the 160-thousand homeless South Florida residents that I was reporting about myself.

I still remember my first warm shower.

After seeing my trashed apartment and starting to sort out the mess realizing for the first time in my life I really had no control over what was next.

Being offered ham and eggs by a family who was cooking breakfast under a tarp hung off a tree.

Not ever getting enough sleep, or being able to go to sleep.

I remember the taste of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on white bread, that a Salvation Army worker handed me.

We were the first news crew on to Homestead Air Force base. Fighter pilots road out the storm in a hanger. During an interview one of the pilots told me, “I thought I was going to die.” I thought, “God, there is not a fighter pilot in the world that thinks he is gunna die!”

Watching the U.S. Army arrive and grab control of the rescue, recovery, and relief effort that had been botched by so many others.

The red tape of the Red Cross in contrast to the simple “what do you need philosophy” of the Salvation Army and the many religious groups that brought aid to South Florida.

Living in the television station for two weeks, living in a cramped mobile home at Harris Field in Homestead.

Being practically in tears when our News Director personally delivered Cuban Sandwiches to those of us in the field.

Being totally frustrated in not being able to solve people’s problems. Andrew was like a giant wave that you could never get out of.

Being hungry, thirsty, and probably a little nutty for way too long.

Watching public officials who failed, other who stepped up an made a sincere effort and made a difference.

Learning much about myself and how material things began to matter less and friendships and relationships became far more important.

Remembering the first night in the Overtown apartment I was able to rent, laying on the floor and sleeping for 12 hours. There was no water, no electricity but it was mine.

The mosquito’s ate us alive and being so glad the mosquito spray DC-3’s doused us daily with insecticide which killed the skeeters but maybe wasn’t so good for us.

Standing in line for a hot dinner at an Army field kitchen.

Standing in line to use the only working pay phone east of US-1 and Southwest 312th street.

It was so hot and then it rained forever right after Andrew.

The smell of wet drywall.

The smell of decaying foliage.

The smell of things dead.

I have to say, Andrew was absolutely frightening. Not only the storm, but the aftermath, the feeling of helplessness, was overwhelming… and that was just some of the “small stuff.”